Azhar Ali strengthened his position as a reliable batsman with a resolute half-century to help Pakistan reach 129-2 at lunch on the third day of the second Test against South Africa on Monday.

The 25-year-old was unbeaten on 75 along with senior team-mate Younis Khan, who was two not out at the break, in reply to South Africa's mammoth first-innings total of 584-9 declared at Abu Dhabi Stadium.